Our day started early today.  We were at the hospital by 7:30a so that Dr. Zellers could check on our cardiac cath cases from yesterday, and to get our two cath cases for the day started earlier.  Heylin, who had a diagnostic echo done Thursday, had a baloon cath done to widen her pulmonary artery.  The second case was Issac who was having a patent ductus closed.  Both children did wonderful during their procedures, and Heylin was sent home by 4pm.

Our number of cases was much less than expected today.  We think it was because of the amount of rain yesterday, which impedes travel here.  Jexial was the first echo to check on his stint, placed yesterday.  He was doing great!

We saw several children with Downs Syndrome, where cardiac problems are common.  There were many very small babies early in the day also.  At the end of the day we had to 18 year olds who had murmers their entire lives. We were excited to be able to tell several families that their children would be fine without any interventions.  All the others...will be able to be helped, hopefully, in the fall.
We were joined today by Dr. Paz, who is in training to become a cardiac surgeon.  He is Honduran, and is being supported in his education by the Friends of Barnabas Foundation.  He is a great guy, and we really enjoyed having him with us.
This evening we are being treated to dinner at the home of Dr. Fonseca, who is a cardiologist at Cemesa Hospital.  We are looking forward to a fun evening, and an early trip home tomorrow.
Thanks for all  your prayers and support. 

Another day done

Our afternoon was full of caths being done and difficult patients.  All the caths were a success.  All 5.  We had three children who came in with very low blood oxygen levels.  These children will be greatly helped by surgery or theraputic caths done in Sept.  There were several very unusual cases, with complicated malformations of their hearts.

There is great fear when you allow you children to go into a surgical suite with people who are strange to you in so many ways.  The tears after successful procedures are contagious, as are the Gracias a Dios prayers verbalized.  All patients were stable when we left the hospital at 8pm.
Our final tally for the day was 5 caths, and 23 echos.  Tomorrow schedule is 2 caths, and who knows how many echos.

We are sitting around the table sharing the day, talking about cases seen and sharing highs and lows.  
Thank you for continued prayers for all.

Friday morning on the run...

The hallway was full again as we arrived at Cemisa Hospital for the day's clinic.  Today will have Dr. Zeller doing 5 cath procedures.  The list for echocardiogram evaluations continues to grow.  Little Kensy is the first case to do a cath on.  I am excited to report that the procedure was a success!  Immediately following the surgery, her oxygen levels went from the 40's to the 70's.  God is good!  His hands are working through everyone involved.
We have seen several babies this morning.  Several of them will just be watched as they grow.  Their heart defects are not severe enough to need intervention at this time.
We have seen a set of sisters.  Claudia is 17 and Dilcia is 15.  They both have atrial septal defects.  Claudia's will be repaired in September.  Dilcia's is a little more complicated, but attempts will be made to repair her's also.  Mom stated that they both have been so sick since they were small.  A doctor had told her what the problems were, but never told her there was possible way of fixing the problem.  She left very hopeful for both girls. 

It is now 11:30a.  We have completed to caths and 10 echos....the day continues.

After getting up at 3am, getting picked up at 4am, and taking off at 6am, two flights and 6 hours later...we have arrived at Cemisa Hospital on the outskirts of San Pedro Sula Honduras.  We saw our first patient at 1:30p.  Kensy is a 6 month old with a heart defect called transposition of the great vessels.  It basically is where the main vessels leaving the heart are switched, sending unoxygenated blood to the body.  Unless there is another defect, specifically a opening between the two sides of the heart, there is no oxygen going to feed the body.  So....first thing tomorrow morning, Kensy will have a cardiac cath done.  During the procedure a opening will be made between her atrium to allow blood flow to begin in the right direction.  This is will allow the Friends of Barnabas Foundation some time to arrange for her to come to the states for open heart surgery.  Our prayers are that this temporary fix really will give her more time. 
In all we saw 15 patients (with all having echos done) between 1:30 and 8:30pm.  Whew!  Some tired puppies here..and we are just starting.

Our team is made up three doctors, one med student, one sonographer, two nurses and three support people.  Most are from the Dallas area. 

All but three of our patients will be having either a cardiac cath or open heart surgery in Sept when the full FOBF surgery team comes.  One of those three children could not be helped.  Meidy is a 7 month old.  She has a grossly enlarged heart due to myocarditis.  She has taken all the medications that she can.  If she was in the US she would be on a transplant list.  Watching the doctors share this news with the parents was very difficult.  We want to help them all, but sometimes that just can't happen.  Please pray for Meidy and her family.

We enjoyed little ones who wore sparkly shoes, handing out stickers and encouraging smiles.  The day is filled tomorrow with 5 caths and a total of 22 for evaluation.

What is going on in missions???

Yesterday was Souper Bowl Sunday!  Armed with Soup Pots, the Youth collected over $400 plus some canned goods!!  Collected funds and canned goods will go directly to FACES!  What a great local mission!

The children were also busy yesterday!  During the Sunday School hour our children gathered to create Valentine Masterpieces for our local nursing home residents.  What a nice way to share the LOVE with our local community!

Our missions team is hosting a Pancake Breakfast at Applebee's!!  Saturday, February 19!  Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the church office M-F from 9-3!  Yum!!  Support this great mission fundraiser!

Saturday morning, February 26 is our day to work at FACES!!  We always need volunteers!  Call April McBride if you can serve a couple of hours!

The Sewing for Missions Group will meet Friday, February 11 from 1-4PM at Lib's Place.  They will be making diapers, washcloths & teddy bears!  Please join them for an afternoon of fellowship & Mission activity.  Please bring scissors that will cut fabric.  For more information contact Rebecca Maxwell at 392.5493! 
Our 2011 Missions Chair is Rick Swayne!  Contact him at swaynere@fuquaschool.com to get involved in FUMC's mission work! 

FUMC Youth: Serving while Waiting!

At FUSION Gathering, for the second week of Advent in our series "the Advent Experience," FUMC Youth discussed the topic of "Serving while Waiting."  We read Luke 1:26-38, the story of Mary hearing the message from the angel Gabriel that she would give birth to the son of God.  Miraculously, Mary's last words to the angel are "I am the Lord's servant.  May it be to me as you have said."  Though Mary was "troubled" and most likely scared, surprised and maybe even doubtful, she accepted Gabriel's message from God and proclaimed her servanthood to the Lord most high!  She was willing to do whatever God asked of her...even giving birth to God's son! 

Last week at FUSION Gathering, we talked about waiting quietly and listening to God's message and plans for us.  This week, we realize through Mary's story, that God calls us to serve others as we prepare for Christmas.  We are called to love God and neighbor as we prepare for Christ's birth!

So, we watched the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas and talked about how the Whos in Whoville loved their neighbors and community so much that having all their Christmas presents, decorations and food stolen from them didn't stop them from celebrating and loving one another.  In fact, they even loved the Grinch through his unkind acts and welcomed him into their community to feast and celebrate together.  In discussion, we came up with many ways that we can be in service and show love to our neighbors this Christmas season: caroling, sharing food, providing warm clothes, visiting others, giving rather than receiving, and much much more. 

To kick off our commitment to be in service while we wait this Advent season, the youth packed 100 bagged lunches to give to members of our community who come into our church seeking assistance.  We also made cards to give to those receiving these meals, and we decorated Christmas cards to give to our nursing home residents.  We challenge the whole church to find ways they can be in service and mission this Advent season!

-Lyndsie Blakely

Operation Christmas Child Mission Trip

Our Group led by Sarah Stokes travelled to Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday, December 2 for two days.  We worked in the Samaritan's Purse Warehouse from 2-6 on Thursday and 10-2 on Friday. 

Our group did various jobs.  We processed shoe boxes in an assembly line order.  1st by opening them and taking out the shipping money, the next person was responsible for going through the boxes to make sure there were no inappropriate items such as food or liquid.  We also put extra items in the boxes if they looked a little skimpy!  Then there was a person responsible for taping the boxes shut and another person loaded them back into the big cartons! 

 It was neat to see the creativity that other people had when it came to items they put in their boxes.  Today we saw a hammer & screwdriver, bag of rubber bands, princess shoes, and much more.  Debbie Lehman said the most interesting thing she saw in a box was the original pair of shoes that came in the box .  Jen Roller found a box that had a pink teddy bear that had "Jesus loves me" written on it.   It was hard when we had to remove items such as bubbles, gift cards, cash etc..  These are things you can't send but you know people took time to put them in - bummer!  I think we were all touched by this amazing experience!

The boxes we packed during our shifts were going to the Dominican Republic & some very special countries like Pakistan & Afghanistan!

The other thing I thought was super cool was how the warehouse was broken up.  There was a break area for us to rest where they sold chick- fil- a and dominoes pizza.  There was the filler station which was like a shopping mall for shoe box items.  There was the hospital for broken or ripped boxes and much more!